Test Match Special

England v West Indies: Smith sets standard for England

Jonathan Agnew is alongside Phil Tufnell & Fazeer Mohammed for reaction to the second day of the test at Edgbaston which saw

Jamie Smith proudly looks back on his innings despite just falling short of a century, and Jaydon Seales looks ahead to day three with optimism as the West Indies face an uphill battle.

Plus, Ainsley Harriott tells us about the ‘Taste of Cricket’ campaign which is working to celebrate the game’s diversity.

Duration:: 39m
Broadcast on:: 27 Jul 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

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(bell chimes) - BBC sounds, music, radio, podcasts. - You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. - Hello, I'm Jonathan Agnew. Welcome to Test Match Special podcast from Edge Bastum where Jamie Smith dug England out of a hole. - As holder, bulls on the line of legs and then struck away to wide low on, Jamie Smith beautifully played wide of mid-on. He has a butter in his own right, apart from what he does behind the stems, and he raises his butt for his second Test Match 50 in three years. - To come, we'll hear from Jamie Smith after his fine innings had ended just short for Made in Test Century, and also Jaden Seals, who took three wickets in England's innings. We'll have analysis of the day's plate from Philtoffnell and Fazia Mohammed, and the chef, Angeli Harriet, tells us about the Taste of Cricket campaign. - You're listening to the TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. - You can look back at this second day of the third and final Test, which sees West Indies 33 for two at the close, they face 14 hostile overs before the close, and that 33 for two means there's still 61 runs behind they lost their captain, Brathwaite, bold by the sixth ball of their innings for naught by Wokes, and they cooked Mackenzie, who's had a rotten series, and they were caught behind by Smith on Atkinson for eight, a decent ball out there, 22 for two. Louis and Alanaas have hung on there to take it up to 33 for two. Yep, the story of the day though, England were 54 for five at one stage, miles behind, that was when Brooke was out for two, Pope having been bold by Joseph for 10, then a stand of 115 between root and stokes, Stokes made 54, he pulled a catch to mid-wicket, and then root was out for 87, a bit surprising there, he missed a pretty straight ball really from the spinner. Jamie Smith came in to bat when England was still 113 runs behind, he made 95, he and Wokes put 106 together, Wokes making 62, a beautiful piece of bowling accounted for Smith to a slow short ball from Shemar Joseph, and I think Smith eyes lit up, really hit a couple of sixes. He looked to repeat it, but was completely deceived by this, and so he missed out on his first Test Century by five runs, back in some 21, and the most successful of the bowl is not necessarily saying the best, but certainly the most expensive and the most wicket, highest wicket take as Howard Joseph, four for 122 from 17.4 overs, Jaden Seals ran in gamely again like it has done throughout, three for 79, Shemar Joseph, two for 63 from 13 overs. So we've got Fazia here, we've got Phil Tuffnell here as well as to look back at the day. Well, we feared for that last hour, Fazia, they haven't, how many lost two wickets there? And it could have been three because of their catch put down by Ben Stokes, and then a narrow escape with the referral with Mikhail Louis facing up to Markwood. But yeah, however you look at it, it's going to be very, very tough for the West Indies, going into the third morning because again, there's that feeling again that they're going to be steam rolled because they've been deflated, having been in such a good position a half an hour into D2 with England 54 for five in reply, and then eventually trailing by 94 runs. So that in itself would have taken the air out of their effort and now to have to survive against a quality bowling attack. It's asking a lot of a very inexperienced team and especially to see Craig Braffitt, their most experienced going the first over. Yeah, tell us what we've been to that last hour. Oh, it's lively, wouldn't it? I mean, they've just got all the sort of bases covered, haven't they, at the moment, England? They've got, I thought, Woke's Bowl beautifully, found some swing and seam. I thought Atkinson is just keeping and keeping and pressing with every performance, gets that ball to dart around off a length and occasional one swings as well. And then once one of those has a blow, you've got a raw pace of Mark Wood who was absolutely flying in there and then just through the ball to Bashir, got it to spin a little bit to the right-handed as well. So it's looking good for England. West Indies are really, you know, buying the eight ball, but yeah, a really good final little session. They're there to get stuck in there, the West Indies. They did it pretty well, but hey, doesn't it look in a pretty tasty unit? Must be hard when a few other West Indies and you feel that everybody else feels that you're going to fall in the heap. But I suppose it should give you that determination. Actually, you're not going to fall in the heap, you're going to go out there and fight and show everybody. And that's the opportunity for them. The disappointment would be that someone like a Cook McKenzie hasn't corrected that obvious flow outside the off-stump because we've seen that from the first innings on the first morning at loads. And it repeats itself across three test matches. But yeah, it's from a West Indies point of view and trying to look at it in a positive context. There's not so much, so much just the tired, old cliche about learning from it. But let's see what you can do on the third morning. Let's see that bit of fight as stuff has mentioned. They could have easily capitulated, but you've seen Athanas, you've seen Mikhail Louis, just show a bit of fight. They need to carry that on and not sort of be satisfied that they've avoided being dismissed on the second evening. Now they've got to show that there's a bit of a bit of fight left in them, a bit of character, a bit of determination. Yeah, because I have been moments when you know about Trembridge, 54 for five, if you're looking for signs, positive signs, shoots or everyone to call them, I mean, they are there. And indeed they are, and the problem for West Indies cricket is just seeing these players push on. We talked about Shamar, Joseph as well, from Brisbane, and many people were very excited. And clearly, he was short of a gallop, coming into the city. He needs some cricket, you know. He's a young lad, he needs, dare I say, a couple of seasons of county cricket. He sort of needs toughening up. But this is the challenge, this is the challenge for the West Indies. You know, can you make, not make a name for yourself? I mean, they're a long way behind the game. But can you just for yourself, you know, stand up to Mark Wood and say, right, come on, I'm going to get stuck in here. Can you get through those tough periods? Can you get a partnership together? Because as we've seen, when you do get a partnership going here, the pitch seems to flatten out a little bit, and you can go and get some runs. So that's what the West Indies are going to try and do. It's very, very difficult. I'm sure it is when you've got such an all-round nice, sort of well-balanced attack at the moment, England. I mean, I was surprised this year at a bowl, actually, but he built beautifully. I mean, he'll come into it more and more in the game. He got some dip, he got some bounce and spin. And perhaps might have, perhaps, given the captain a bowl, because it was swinging the seamen a bit, but, yeah, it's going to be a tough old day for the West Indies tomorrow. Yeah. So England's batting, 54 for 5, what's going on here? I mean, it was nice. Yes, it was, wasn't it? Yeah, it was all over the place. A little bit worrying as well. A lot of the wickets have fallen at this pitch. It's a bit of a featherbed sort of pitch, which is a lot of drag-ons. And if you go out there and you don't try and get yourself in, get yourself to 20, 30 balls, you can be a little bit airy-fairy on this pitch. And that's what it seemed for both West Indies and England. But that knock from Smith. I mean, it's a bit of a Rolls Royce kind of knock, wasn't it? I mean, it was just smooth power. You know, he got himself in. He looks a really good player. I mean, that's an obvious thing to say, but he really does. Yeah, for, you know, a young fella to start making his way in Test Match cricket, got himself in a light sort of a Harry Brook on a big dart at one. And Zach Crawley, a dart at one early on, Oli Pope early on, dragging one on, too early in their innings. But he just seemed to sort of like way up the situation beautifully and very, very quickly. And it was just, it was just smooth. I was listening to Vic there. It was just a cruise for him. He just cruised about. Beautiful. I don't think Boeing's short-term is necessary. No, a good play. I think that's his onion, as we used to call it. It's just six. I mean, actually, he's heating it up and over mid-wicked. Yes, he doesn't get dragged down to the sort of deep-square-leg, long-leg area. No, he sees it early, picks up that leg very, very quickly. I think that's his favourite side, isn't it, that on side. But he does, you know, he's a great extra cover driver as well. But anything short, anything remotely short, and he's in Nick, he's popping it mid-wicked. As you say, those two guys there on the hook were completely wasted. Yeah, yeah. I mean, you can absolutely see why he was chosen. And it might well have chosen some, or created some rutions. But, sorry, who knows, with Ben folks? Or at least some complications for Paul Alec to have to deal with there. And for the two individuals, too, to work out. I'm not bothered, I don't know. But you can see why Ben Stokes and Brendan McCall and Rob Key, all in this, they want to play this brand of cricket, which they have toned down. But they do want somebody who can be very positive at number seven, bat with the bowlers, score runs, taken attack by the scruff of the neck. And this fella, as well as keeping wicked, he absolutely fits the bill. Oh, and he did it beautifully today, isn't he? He'd say 54 for five England in trouble. England in trouble, but he didn't come out there and he's, you know, just sort of like, say, second ball whack and try and get on with it. He actually sort of, he looks like he reads the situation and he's got a very, very good cricket brain on his shoulders for someone, so yeah. I did enjoy, though. I have to say, Fazia, the ball of the day for me. Oh, you're still Paul. It was fantastic. I love that sort of deception. That's that snowball. You should have been a spinner job. No, no, it was quicker than that. But it was just the bravery of doing it is on 95, he's been smashed into the stands by him and he actually, he dared bowl it. Because if we got it wrong, it would have probably gone into the stands for six anyway. People thought, what is that powder puff thing? He got the length absolutely right. He got the line absolutely right. This is one of those moments where you plan something and it works. And I don't think he has had a very good series. I think he's got to go back and I said to her, you know, he's got to go back and tough himself up a bit. But there's some talent there. When you see a ball like that, and in that situation, there's something there, isn't there? And thinking as well, clearly there's a lot going on between the ears other than just trying to show off and be impressive for the audience. Because he got me as well, because I was thinking on commentary that maybe it was a stock delivery that just kept a bit low. That's how I wanted it. Then you saw it again and you recognised the thinking. It was skill. And again, as you said correctly, you're probably thinking, how do I get out of this without being smashed for six for this guy to get a made in 100? Serves up the equivalent of an off break when surely no one else would have been anywhere close to that level of thinking and he gets the wicked. So it was very brave. Very, very creative. There was a lovely shot if you haven't seen it yet on the highlights. You kind of have the England dressing room at the moment they got out. Stokes sort of throws his head back, you know, dramatically behind him. Looked for all he posted. Comes his face with a cushion. He does. I've done that a few times, because it's a Surrey teammate. He's obviously willing him all made his hides his face. I know. This cushion, though. I know. We did that to Michael Matheson on 99 when he got running. Oh my god. And he's just like, oh, crikey. But you could just see that the whole dressing room was willing him to get there. And he deserved it. He played beautifully great in it. Don't you know, Root missed that ball, like, because he's such a good player. It's been, and it makes you wonder again, you know, we talked about Moti at Lord's. It's got a good variation. Yeah. That must have just fizzed on a little bit more than Root was expecting. Well, he's got a good quick arm. He's got a nice quick arm, good little variation. He's got a bad ball in him, to be fair. He could bowl it a little bit short once in a while. But he's done Root a couple of times with that sort of little, sort of, quick arm. And I think it might have been a little underspin or just not turned, been a natural variation. And it just rushed, rushed him. And we've seen now Rooty walk off twice against Moti's. He's not going, how did it happen? No, because he says he's such a good player of spin. And you can tell that perhaps it's just rushed him, because the bat, instead of in that beautiful, straight position, where he sort of pushed it back to the bowl or to midoff, it was just a bit angled. And that's sort of what happens when you're a bit rushed, and he's taken by a surprise. But he's done him a couple of times. Jaden Seals, he took three for 79, and he's been speaking to Simon Mann. Well, Jaden, ultimately, a tough day. How do you sum it up? I thought we'd bowl well. Way better than we did throughout the entire series. We stuck at it, we stuck to our plans. And the bowlers, they really thought it was a hard thought day. And we got the rewards, probably went for a little bit more than we wanted to. But we got the rewards, and we got the job done in the end. What were you thinking at 54 for five? Game on, just two good wickets again, and we were right into the game, right into the contest. I wouldn't say that we left it to slip, but it was a good pattern from Roode and Stokes, they back well. And you could see the experience. They took the game away from us to a point where they got themselves into a good partnership, and then dropped a for Jamie Spencer to follow back as well as well. So good host of them. From a personal point of view, what's it been like bowling at this England batting lineup? It's been tough, because they've been challenged from the start of the batting order right down to Leanne, because they all come, or they play free, they play their shot. So you have to be on it from ball one. And as you can see from the last test, if you're not on it from ball one, for me, especially, it was tough going to get back into the game. So it's always a challenge, and it's always a learning experience. And obviously, getting to play in these conditions and play against a world class team as England, as they are right now, is always a good experience for a young team moving forward. A personal milestone for you, 50th Wicket in your 13th test match. How do you feel your career's going? I think it's been pretty good. I've done pretty well for Western. These are like this year. The jobs are done. I definitely want a lot more work as for Western. He's in test cricket. I'm just thankful that I've gotten to that milestone and looking to move forward from there now. How much did it help you that you play some candy cricket before the series? It helped me a lot in terms of understanding my game and understanding the conditions here in England, when the ball would start a swing, when the hole and go a lot straighter. So it did give me a chance to fill out the experiences that we were coming across the plane. And a lot of my body to go through the different types of weather. The cold, sometimes it's very hot. So it allowed me to kind of ready myself for the series. Just back to the game, behind on first innings. How big do you see the challenge ahead from here? I think it's still a very good pit. So I'm back any buttsman, 100% to go down, do what you have to do, score the run, put away the bad boys. I mean, it's still a very good picture, I said. So runs will come once we wait and buy it all the time. Yes, it's a very good ball attack, but I think the batsman that we have, they've shown in true of the series in patches that they can't, but they can't stand up and put their hands off for the team. So it's just a mark of them doing it again tomorrow and set us up for a big win, hopefully. How many do you think you could defend? Well, I think the pitchers start to play a bit lower. So it just depends if we could get at least 300, 350, and ball well, we could defend that score in this pitch. Thanks very much for your time, Jaden. Thanks very much, cheers, thank you. There we go, Jaden Seals, thinking positively as you have to do, three for 79. He's had a good series, actually, hasn't he, first? Yes, yes, and it's been a tough challenge for him, still, because again, you're playing a caliber of batter and a long batting lineup, you've got to be consistent and he's had his periods when he's struggled to get rhythm. But you can see the quality, he's getting the reward for it. But like everyone else, he knows that the West Cities need to put in a lot more work to really be able to compete at a consistently high level. Jamie Smith, then, is we doing the Simon, man? Well, Jamie, is it congratulations for your highest test score or commiserations for missing out on 100? It's not commiserations at all. Slightly guided, obviously, when you miss out on a milestone, but I feel like the way I played there, I'm very pleased of it. Obviously, I had some good partnerships there. But to myself and Joe and then myself and Wakesy there that have brought us from 50 for 5, you know, to a very positive day in the end. Yeah, it was a remarkable turnaround, wasn't it? Yeah, they toured hard in the morning. Obviously picked up their couple of wickets last night and then started really well today. So we're a little bit on the back foot. But we know it's a good surface here and we've got some good players to come. So we're always positive that we could turn it around. You've battered so far with a bit of freedom because of the position of the game. Today, you came in under pressure. What was going through your mind when you came in at 160 to 6, still well behind? Still be positive. There's going to be opportunities out there to go and score. And I think that was the thing for me, is to go and, you know, impose myself on the opposition and look to take it on. That's the way I like to go and play in my cricket. So I thought that's the best way to go about instead of, you know, trying to stay there all day and probably get a good ball of my name on it. So it's to put them under pressure and, thankfully, it worked today. What about the shot onto the roof of the Holy Stand? Yeah, I connected quite decently with that one. It helped with-- Quite good. It helped with the short boundary and with the wind as well. But, yeah, I was pretty pleased with that one. Is it one of those shots you sort of think about later? I think, oh, yeah, what a stroke that was. Yeah, 100%. It's one I have with fond memories. Looking back on this game, definitely. Now, you're on 95. What were you thinking there? Were you thinking possibly, possibly go to 100 with a 6? Yeah, absolutely. I was thinking just to take it on as much as I can and try to hit for 6. But to be fair, to Shimajos, if they completely dumb me of a slow ball and, yeah, that's just one of them things. Did you think slow ball possibility or is it just a complete surprise? I thought it could be a possibility. To be honest, I was just thinking to get my leg across and try and swing it to the short side. But, yeah, as I said, he's done me there and fair play for that. And, yeah, I can't be too disappointed with 95. How much are you enjoying it? I mean, not just batting, but also the keeping as well. Yeah, I think it's everything that comes with it. It's a great environment to be in. It's a very relaxed change room at all times. Even when we're 50 for five there, it was very relaxed. You can go out and be authentic to yourself and how you want to play. I think that's really important to exude to confidence throughout every single player. It's just a great environment to be part of. Do you think you've got the game now? Wow, you never know. But then a couple of wickets there, you know, obviously help. You ought to come back now, you know, refresh through the bowl as if, you know, had some tough overs in the last few games. To come back, we're going to be looking to, you know, try and take as many wickets as you can while we're still in a deficit and see what we get to. Well, well played today. Congratulations, rather than commiserations. - Thank you. - Thanks very much for talking to me. - Thank you. - Yeah, I got right. And for being honest, too, and getting credit to the opposition, it's nice to hear that. It speaks rather well, doesn't it? And that's exactly the way he plays his cricket with the bat and with the gloves as well. He just seems quite unflappable. - Yeah, very straightforward sort of thing. - Very straightforward. He's got a straightforward technique. He gives it a whack, legs side and anything up there he'll nail through extra cover. And also the way he's got about the one... I mean, I don't want to sort of take it in a way. What would be the test, is, you know, drops a couple of catches and things start getting into the brain a little bit, but I mean, what a fantastic three test matches he's got off to, you know, he's kept him accurately and smashed it with the bat, but very sort of composed, very composed player, James Smith. - Yeah. - Yeah. So, last thoughts in Fazia, is tomorrow the last day of the series, do you think, or can you see West Indies getting through this? - The head says, yes, that England are just going to steam roll the West Indies and rapid are probably with the same length of time as we saw the Lord's test match. The heart says, you want to see some fight. You want to see that bit of character, even if England eventually prevailed, that leaves you with the feeling that these players, the majority of them, that the West Indies can build something meaningful, but there's no question. England are way on top here. - Quick blast of stats from Andy Zoltzmann. Some interesting things to say, statistically and as often is the case with dramatic cricket, England lost five for 25, from 29th and last night, which is their worst collapse for the first five, which gets in more than five years. Their worst at home against West Indies since 1963, and it could have been worse if Joe Root had been given out LBW on the three of West Indies, had referred it. Root went on to pass. Brian Lara into seventh place in the all-time list and become the seventh player to reach 12,000 test runs. That was followed by 50 plus stands for the sixth, seventh, and eighth wickets, only the fifth time in England's test history. They've done that. Half centuries from number 7, 8, 9, and the eighth time in test history that a team has had 50 plus from 7, 8, 9 in the same innings, and in the second time England have done it. And they added 322 runs after the fall of their fifth wicket. Not so good for West Indies. Alsari Joseph, 422 of 17.4 at 6.9, and over the second most expensive innings by a Seema in test cricket of 15 or more overs. And in the series, he's going at just over six and over, only the second time in test history so far that any bowler has bowled 50 overs or more in a series and got up more than a runner ball. The other was Zahid Mahmood for Pakistan against England on the first Bazball tour in the 2022-23. Winter and Kirk Mackenzie ending with 33 runs from six innings, an average of five and a half, the lowest average any West Indian top three player has ever returned in a series in which he's batted five or more times. The TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. Did I hear you're shopping for a car? Because I've been at it for ages. Such a time suck, right? Not really. I bought it on Carvana. Super convenient. Oh, then comes all the financing research, am I right? Well, you can. But I got pre-qualified for a Carvana auto loan in like two minutes. 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[MUSIC PLAYING] Now, Friday saw a special event taking place at a cricket club in West London, acknowledging the game of cricket's unique bond with food. The Taste of Cricket campaign is working to celebrate the game's diversity and ensuring that everyone feels welcome to play, volunteer, or work in our wonderful sport. Over 100 special events are taking place this summer at cricket clubs across the country. And one of those was at Shepherd's Bush Cricket Club. Our reporter, Luke Wilson, home was there, along with some very special guests. So I'm here with none of that. Then Painsley Harriet, how are you? Luke, I am absolutely brilliant. And the perfect day for cricket, someone's just dropped one in the slips then. But what a fantastic club this is, you know? The Shepherd's Bush Cricket Club. Been here a long time. You meet some of the guys that have been here for four-child years, and they come down and they say, it's the most wonderful way of bringing people together. And you feel that as you walk into the club, there's a real sense of community here, you know? And we're on events today, which is trying to bring together food and cricket. And cricket has a very unique relationship with food, doesn't it? It has a tea interval, a lunch interval built into a test match. Not many of the major sports have that. I can't think of another sport where you stop for afternoon tea. You know, can you imagine halfway through a game of football or something like that? So it stopped now, lads, time for tea, you know? It's a flow in no-stop, but going for tea. It is unique, and it is brilliant. And what makes the game so special? Again, you mentioned the afternoon tea thing are. And what we try and do here, we're trying to kind of, not only at the club, but the ECB have got involved with about 100 recreational cricket grounds around Britain and Wales to kind of just bring people together. And the best way of doing that is food. That's why the whole thing is called a taste of cricket. And everybody has their own style of tea, don't they? You know, I've got my friend, Pratab. He's, when you go with his family and they go and watch cricket, they stop, there's samosas and stuff like that, and bakoras and stuff like that for afternoon tea. And then, you know, dare I say, there's quite a large West Indian contingent down here at the Shepherd's Bush Cricket Club, and jerk chicken is everywhere, future-making patties. And God, it seems to be a long time ago when it was Egan Kress and cucumbers, sandwiches, milky tea and orange squash. You know what I mean? We've moved on a better sense, then, haven't we? I think we have, actually, but it's in a very positive way. I think it's kind of, let's say, it's a lot more diversity in the game. We're not just talking about people, we're talking about food, too. Absolutely. You were a head chef at the Lord's Long Room in the early '90s, I believe. How was that? That was fantastic. Let's not forget that the windies were their most powerful, then, so it was a real celebration. You felt honoured, you felt proud and privileged to be associated with, you know, a West Indian cricket team that was just performing year after year after year. Let me say it wasn't always the windies that were touring, could be New Zealand, it could have been Australia. Yes, it's wow, India. It's the home of cricket, and people came together at sort of nine o'clock in the morning, even though cricket didn't actually start until about 11.30 or whatever. And then, you know, no sooner were they out, they were out there, they were back having lunch. They had a time for lunch. And then they came out after lunch with their bellies quite full, especially Mike Gattigan's. Beautiful cricket, though. These guys could play cricket, let me tell you. And being responsible for the food in the long room, this was an event that lasted all day, people loved it. It's just a very, very special place to work in. And, you know, it's, we moved to honours throughout the years, we've got improved the service. And remember, these people have often waited 20, 30 years for their membership, sometimes even longer. That's how long it takes. And then, when you get there, you know, the class was everywhere. The way they did things, the history that was all around the room and the fantastic pictures, the view, the perfect view from behind the bowlers' arm, from the long room, and stuff like that. It was a theatre of cricket, it was a magnificent place to be. And you want to look after those members. How many did you score, mate? 29, you got 29. Well done. You expect about that great West Indies side of the early 90s. What are your thoughts on the current West Indies cricket team? How's he playing England right now in a test series? Yeah, well, even the present day team, you've got to give them time. You know, if you look back at the old days of playing cricket in the Caribbean, cricket was the only way out. I think that now sport is competitive, you're a sportsman, you can choose between basketball, you can choose between baseball. I mean, just a whole number of different sports that you could actually choose. This guy that's bowling is really good. Look at his army. Really, look at that. Beautiful action. Beautiful action. Really, really lovely. Love watching him. Sorry about that, listeners. But I think you've just got to give it time. And, you know, let's not forget, it wasn't that long ago that India were a bit of a soft touch. You know, you go back, they were in those 40 years ago, and when they came to Lords or something like that, and they're like, "Oh, we're going to win this quite easily." Rude, people were rude about them. You know, now look at them. They're one of the world leaders, if not the world leaders. You know, they're brilliant at what they do. So it's just a matter of getting the right formula, getting people into the grounds, because I think that's really where we let ourselves down. There just doesn't seem to be enough money generated in cricket. But, you know, unless you have success, then you don't, it doesn't attract the people. So it's going to be tough, or perhaps what we're really looking for is trying to unearth another Lara, a superstar. All you need is one or two superstars in a team, you know, and it just transforms the nation, because all the kids want to come and see their superstars. They want to cheer, they want to see them do something special. They ignite the excitement in your soul. Absolutely. Such a beautiful answer in your right. It's about inspiring that next generation trying to build for five, ten years, right? Absolutely, absolutely. OK, let's get for a little wonder and see who else we can find at this lovely event. I'm Kate Miller, I'm Chief Communications Officer for the UCB. And I'm at Shepherd's Bush Cricket Club today at the event that I want you to tell me a bit more about. Yeah, so we're at a Taste of Cricket event at Shepherd's Cricket Club, it's number five now. In a series of events we've been running across the summer, trying to bring communities together through cricket, obviously, but also food as well. The whole set up and premise to this has been the connection that cricket has to food, and then all the various different food cultures that exist within cricket, all the various different communities, white British, Bangladesh, Pakistani, Indian, and all the amazing food cultures that exist and how people come together through communities and celebrate and enjoy sport and eat food. I mean, cricket, the recent history within cricket, needs no introduction really. We know we've got issues with racism, other forms of discrimination, such as sexism and misogyny, and there's a lot of policy work happening, and processes are changing, and a lot of more strict and structured changes that are happening across the sport, but this was a way to bring communities together again, hopefully try and rebuild some trust, and allow cricket clubs to open their doors to communities that might not currently be coming along to play or take part or join up together. So the idea is that a cricket club here can throw the doors open and celebrate through sport, and there'll be cricket match going on here now, and food. It doesn't get much better than that, does it? No, no, there's some pretty, as well, and the sun's shining as well, so I feel like we've ticked all three boxes in one go, and then at the back end of all of this, we're producing a cookbook for Christmas, which cricket fans everywhere can get their hands on a little bit closer to the festive season, which again will bring together grassroots recipes, people that contribute hugely to their kind of clubs, as well as sort of higher individuals, so I believe we've got Agas providing us with a recipe, which I'm very excited to see what he's gonna share, basically Harriet's gonna summon in lots of influences, and then, as I've said, some of those great grassroots chefs and cooks that we see across the game. Beautiful initiative. We're in London, obviously, today, but this initiative is all around the country, right? Yeah, yeah, we've been everywhere from in Berkshire a couple of weeks ago, we're finishing up in Halifax, we've got an event today, but also people across cricket that work in cricket, so the staff at Lords that work for the ECB there, they've been celebrating with their own sort of smaller taste of cricket events again to come together through food, take a little bit of a moment, a little bit of a bite to eat and kind of celebrate and come together. You know, cricket's got, we've got some trust to rebuild, we've got some unity to create, we know there's a long way to go, and as I said, there's a lot of this normal structure and policy stuff happening behind the scenes, and cricket regulators being relaunched, but actually this was more of a sort of community-minded unity moment. And that's right, getting into the grassroots is so important, right? A lot of these things are from the top, but starting from the bottom is equally important. Exactly that, and we've always tried to approach this as it being a top-down, and it's very much about leadership and structures within cricket, we identified through the ICEC report a year ago now that systems and structures and policies and leadership was not where it needed to be yet, but this is very much as you've identified it, you know, it's a grassroots and a ground opportunity to bring people together. Okay, we've spoken to Kate, and we've spoken to Alesley Harriet as well, but we've got one more special guest, Chris Jordan, how are you? Yeah, very well, can't complain, stands out, so, yeah, smiling. So I've got to ask, where is the best food in the world at any ground? You probably can't look past lords, to be fair. I mean, everyone looks forward to that week at lords, especially a test match, or even in content to cricket a four-day game, because from breakfast right down to dinner, it's top draw for sure. Is there anywhere else in the UK that stands out for a lovely tea? I can't look past the oval as well. I'm a home ground, so I have to give him a shout-out for sure, but, yeah, I mean, there's a few. I mean, you have the oval, you have edge busting, yeah, you have Nottingham as well. And food's a big part of a lot of cricketers, like someone they're young, right? It's always built into the game. Do you have any fond memories of, you know, nice food when you're younger, playing the game at a club level? Yeah, just go back to school level, really. It's a growing Barbados, which is well documented, but far teas in Barbados used to get some in a local thing called sweet bread. I used to actually put a bit of cheese on it, have some more, be with it. Again, it's a local drink, but I have fond memories for them, because especially when it's coming up to your interval, you always got a little bit more energy knowing that you're about to go and fill your stomach, you know? And you don't want to eat too much, 'cause then that last session can become difficult, potentially. Yeah, but it depends on who you speak to. If you're not going to bowl straight after the team interval, then you might eat a little bit more, and then ready to work it off for the last hour. I just want to ask you here about the recent T20 World Cup campaign. How do you think that went for the England side? Obviously, a little bit indifference, a bit of a rollercoaster. Ultimately, we didn't achieve our goal, which was to defend our title. We fell short, it sent me final, but I thought we probably fell short to the best team in the tournament who went on to win it in the end. They obviously showed their class right toward the tournament, but for us, it was obviously a little bit of a rollercoaster, a few ironing intervals, and then at the last minute, to make it to the Super Aids, you had to kind of rely on Australia. So, I mean, I'd never watched a cricket game like that in my life, you know, having those emotions, but I bet we were a rollercoaster, but we definitely gave it our best shot. I thought we got better as the tournament, but we went on for sure. And yeah, we just thought fell short like that, sort of. Just on a personal level. I mean, taking a hat trick, taking a four foot in the Super Aids, that must be a career highlight, right? Yeah, it's right up there, for sure. A lot of my career highlights have come at that stadium, to be fair. I think my first game at this stadium, I've got a man in match performance as well. And it was the first time, like, kind of my family was watching me play international cricket. But yeah, that afternoon in Bridgstone against an oval, again, in my family watching, especially like my young nephew who's, like, really budding supporter of the game. He watches all my videos on YouTube and stuff, but any morning, he rang me and he said that he wants at least three rickets. So, yeah, to give him four and to look up in his stands and see him jumping up and really, really so happy. Like, yeah, that just made my day and made my tournament, to be honest. Yeah, it was an amazing moment, absolutely. Food must have been pretty good out there as well. Yeah, it wasn't too bad. I mean, yeah, from the time you get to breakfast and you won't need care of being this, it's definitely a slightly different spread, but I'm always smiling because I don't get to eat that kind of food every day. And just in terms of the leadership of this white ball, side getting into the next cycle now as an England team, with Josh Butler and Matthew Mott, there have been some questions over the leadership of the camp fully behind them. Yeah, 100%. But, I mean, to even go any deeper into it, not really my place at this particular moment, but I've really enjoyed playing under Mottie and Josh and obviously if they continue and I continue as well, then I've been more than happy to continue that fight, but they've been brilliant. I think it's important to highlight that under their leadership, they bring home a World Cup, you know? And again, we did make another semi-final. So I think in general, over the last few years, our pedigree in the T20 tournament has been really good. I think we haven't made anything less than semi, so the pedigree has been good. I just said more than happy to continue to play under them because I really enjoy working with them. That's it for this episode of the TMS podcast. Make sure you've subscribed on BBC Sounds, so you don't miss a thing for this test series between England and the West Indies. And while you're there, listen to our view in a boundary chat with Samantha Bond, known for playing Miss Moneypenny in the Pierce Brosnanera James Bond film. She talks about those films and even a shoot that involves kissing piers for three hours. Also, the latest episode of Tailenders is available right now. Jimmy Anderson talks to Greg James and feels quite about his new role as England's bowling coach and Test Match Specials back on air at 10 o'clock on Sunday on five sports extra and BBC Sounds for the third day of the test here at Edge Baston. ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ We all know what that music means. It's time for the Olympics in Paris. I'm Matt Rogers and I'm Belling Yang. And we're doing an Olympics podcast? Yeah, we're hosting the Two Guys Five Rings podcast. Watch every moment of the 2024 Paris Olympics beginning July 26th on NBC and Peacock. And for the first time, you can stream the 2024 Paris Games on the iHeartRadio app. And listen to Two Guys Five Rings on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. ♪♪ [BLANK_AUDIO]